Courts
Va. Supreme Court rules felon must reimburse state Medicaid for victim’s medical costs
The Supreme Court of Virginia last week ruled that a Patrick County man convicted of a 2019 stabbing must pay restitution to the state Medicaid program to cover the costs of the victim’s medical treatment. The ruling reverses an earlier decision by the Virginia Court of Appeals that found the state’s Department of Medical Assistance […]
High fees, long waits cast shadow over new criminal expungement laws
More states are making it easier for residents to clear or seal their criminal records. The effort has drawn bipartisan support, as lawmakers across the political spectrum say it will help people find jobs and housing, in turn boosting local economies and reducing reliance on social services. “Folks that get out of jail or prison […]
Va. court: Zoning violation notices must spell out consequences of not appealing to local board
In a case involving a Chesapeake carport, the Virginia Court of Appeals ruled that zoning violation notices issued by a local government must clearly state that the property owner’s failure to contest the violation within 30 days means the decision is legally “final and unappealable.” “Without the finality language, a property owner might logically conclude […]
Va. man imprisoned for 9 years over beer and sandwich theft can pursue malpractice suit, court says
The Virginia Court of Appeals is allowing a legal malpractice suit to go forward in a case brought by a Rockingham County man who served almost nine years in prison for his involvement in the 2012 theft of sandwiches and two cases of beer from a grocery store in Harrisonburg. The ruling, handed down Tuesday, […]
Supreme Court of Virginia rejects challenge to 2022 narrowing of sentencing reforms
The Supreme Court of Virginia rejected a Virginia inmate’s argument that last-minute changes in the state’s 2022 budget rolling back earlier sentencing reforms had wrongly blocked him from being let out early for good behavior. In a decision that touched on the finer points of how policies become law, the court ruled that language in […]
‘Tiger King’ animal trainer sentenced to $10K fine, no jail time for trafficking lion cubs in Frederick Co.
An animal trainer featured in the popular “Tiger King” documentary and subsequently convicted of illegally purchasing endangered lion cubs in Frederick County, Virginia will face a $10,000 fine but no jail time, the state’s Office of the Attorney General said Tuesday. “Today concludes a multi-year investigation and prosecution by my office,” said Attorney General Jason […]
Va. appeals court upholds finding that Amazon Flex drivers were misclassified as contractors
The Virginia Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a 2020 decision by the Virginia Employment Commission that Amazon’s logistics arm had misclassified delivery drivers who work under its Uber-like Flex system as independent contractors. The ruling stems from a case that began in 2019 when former Flex driver Ronald Diggs filed an unemployment claim with […]
Va. attorney general says transgender student policies comply with anti-discrimination laws
In response to a request by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Attorney General Jason Miyares released an official advisory opinion today concluding the state’s model policies concerning the treatment of transgender students comply with federal and state anti-discrimination laws and reiterating the administration’s stance that school boards must adopt policies in line with them. “It is my […]
Federal judge considers stay in abortion case affecting Montana, Kansas and Virginia
A federal judge in Virginia will likely stay – or pause – a case regarding medical providers and mifepristone, a drug commonly used as part of chemical abortions, because of similar challenges in Texas and Washington. Groups from Virginia, Montana and Kansas had filed the suit in the Charlottesville division of the U.S. District Court […]
Abortion pill to stay on the market until U.S. Supreme Court ruling after appeals court order
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday the abortion pill can stay on the market, but it agreed with a lower court that ultimately use should revert to prescribing and dosage instructions that were in place before 2016. That appeals court ruling will immediately be put on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court decides […]
Va. appeals court says wine shippers need license for every shipping location
The Virginia Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that wine shippers who buy wine from different wineries that then box and ship orders on to Virginia customers must get a state license for every location involved in the chain. The decision overturns an earlier ruling by Richmond Circuit Court that found California-based company VinoShipper only needed […]
4th Circuit dismisses remaining two Mountain Valley Pipeline cases
The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed two long-standing legal challenges against the Mountain Valley Pipeline Friday, citing its lack of authority to hear the cases following the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act earlier this year. The dismissals mean the project, which was temporarily halted by the latest legal challenges, can continue. “Here, […]